2006
Christmas Workshop
December 2006

“Christmas Workshop,” Friend, Dec. 2006, 6–7

Christmas Workshop

Christmas Doorknob Banner

By By Rose Ross Zediker

You will need:

  • lightweight cardboard or cardstock

  • scissors

  • green felt

  • glue

  • red felt

  • cotton balls

  1. Using the illustration as an example, cut the lightweight cardboard into a rectangular shape with a hole near the top for your bedroom doorknob to fit through.

  2. Trace the shape of the cardboard onto the green felt and cut it out. Glue the green felt in place on the cardboard.

  3. Cut a stocking shape out of the red felt. Pull cotton balls to loosen them and glue them along the top of the stocking.

  4. Turn the stocking over and squeeze glue along the outside edges, but not the top edge. Press the stocking onto the center of the green felt and let the glue dry. The stocking should now form a small pocket.

  5. Have every family member make a doorknob banner and spend the season leaving notes, treats, and other Christmas surprises in each other’s stockings.

Christmas Doorknob Banner

Spiced Nuts

2 cups walnut halves, blanched almonds, or pecan halves

1 small egg white

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

  1. Pour the nuts into a large, resealable plastic bag.

  2. Crack an egg into a bowl, making sure to separate the white from the yolk. Discard the yolk. Add the egg white to the nuts in the plastic bag. Shake to coat.

  3. Add the sugar and cinnamon to the bag. Shake to coat.

  4. Spread the nuts on a greased baking sheet and bake 20 minutes at 300°F (149°C). Pour the nuts onto waxed paper and let cool.

Festive Cracker Dip

8 ounces (227 g) cream cheese

1/3 cup sour cream

1/4 cup chopped green olives stuffed with pimentos

1 teaspoon liquid from the bottle of green olives

1/4 cup chopped green pepper

1/4 cup chopped red pepper

Stir the cream cheese and sour cream together. Mix in the chopped olives and olive juice. Form into a ball and cover with chopped peppers. Serve with crackers or vegetables.

Berry Bread

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/4 cups oil

4 eggs

3 cups frozen strawberries, raspberries, or mixed berries

  1. Stir all the dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Then add the oil, eggs, and berries. Mix well.

  2. Pour the batter evenly into three greased and floured 8x4-inch (20x10-cm) loaf pans. Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 1 hour.

Family Tree Ornaments

By By Lori Nawyn

These simple ornaments can turn your Christmas tree into a real family tree! You will need:

canning jar rings

photocopies of family photos—both living family members and ancestors

pencil

scissors

glue

yarn or ribbon

lace (optional)

  1. Place a canning ring right-side up on a photo. Make sure all the details you want to see are framed by the ring. Trace around the outside of the ring with a pencil.

  2. Cut out the photo along the traced line and make sure it fits snugly inside the canning ring.

  3. Turn the ring upside down. Squeeze a bead of glue around the edge of the photo and carefully place the photo inside the canning ring. Wipe away any excess glue.

  4. Cut ribbon or yarn into desired lengths. Tie the ends together to form a loop for hanging. Glue the bottom of the loop to the top of the canning ring. You may also want to glue ribbon or lace along the canning ring for decoration. Allow the glue to dry and hang your ornament on the Christmas tree.

Illustrations by Scott Greer